Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK, I do have some snake experience, but not with carpets. Unfortunately, the carpet that I got that was very docile and calm when I bought him has turned out a little nippy. This is not a hatchling. It was sold to me as 18 months old, and is about four feet I'm guessing. My question is, what's the best way to tame this guy down? If I am going to let him bite me a few times and not back down, what is the least painful way to do this? I plan on feeding in a seperate tank, with frequent handlings between feedings. Also, this was not in the care sheets I read, when they do bite, is it more apt to hang on to me or release right away and possibly strike again? Am I correct in assuming he will go for the closest part of my body, the hand or forearm, or the warmest part? Maybe someone could hook me up with some better care sheets too? Thank you so much! I usually post on the leopard gecko site (tho not for awhile) and I look forward to posting updates of my new guy taming down!
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1.0 Blizzard Bill
1.0 Hypo stripe, Het Rainwater from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino (Cloud)
0.2 Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Pepper (het stripe), Goldie-now w/SD)
0.1 Normal (Freckles)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.1 Tremper Albino (Leucy)
RIP Peaches, Ghost
6 babies
lots more eggs a-cookin'

You might try putting a glove on one hand while handling. Remember that your body temp is almost a hundred degrees, which is higher than most basking temps. If it needs to bite, the glove won't hurt it. Gradually it will get used to you.

Be careful with the gloves, you can't tell how much pressure you're using and can cause injuries. There are mainly two types of biters with Carpets, and most other snakes. The kind that strike at you when you go in to pick them up, then the kind that bite while they are being held. Snakes that strike when you go in are a lot easier to "tame" than the ones who just decide to bite out of nowhere. For the first, I usually put my hand in, touch the snake, if/when it strikes touch it again. After a while they usually try to run, at that point pick it up and it shoudl be fine once you have it off the ground. The other type is harder and would require a long sleeve shirt and gloves to start with. Also, don't let it get within striking distance of your face. That is always a good rule however. With frequent handling it should be fine. In my experience most carpets strike on the ground on not while being held, though I have seen some exceptions. Some people put a dirty t-shirt in the cage so they get used to your smell, which I hear works. When I've been bitten by carpets it's always been a quick strike. They do have large teeth though, and they seem to get them caught in your skin so if you can help it, don't pull back. Their teeth are shaped like a cats claw, and it will only hurt you more if you pull away. Thats easier saidt than done though. The most important thing is to go in like you are not afraid, any jitterning, and poking, or unsure movements will cause even a friendly snake to get nervous, good luck, Eric-

I should add that I don't "pick up" pythons w/gloves, just initial approach on some and support w/direction. My pair of 12' Papuan Olives are best handled w/gloves. I usually only use one glove...kinda like Michael Jackson

The same thing happened with a carpet python I bought. I got him when he was almost 2yrs old and he was completely calm and then a few months later started biting whenever I tried to take him out of his cage. First off I would suggest getting a snake hook (30" or so). Mine has gotten used to the snake hook and no longer strikes at it and once he is out of his cage he calms down quite a bit and can be handled with no gloves or long sleeves. Getting bitten doesn't usually hurt, it's more of a shock and after you realize what happened then you start to bleed. As mentioned before the teeth are extremely sharp and there are alot of them. Mine has always been a strike and release and has never held on. When feeding make sure your hands are clean of any prey smells and deal with it with confidence. Mine can sense if people are nervous and it puts him on edge. Good luck though.

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1.0 Anery Columbian Redtail Boa
1.0 Striped Irian Jaya Carpet Python
0.1 Gray Banded Kingsnake
1.1 Ball Python
1.0 Sunglow Striped Corn
1.1 Leopard Gecko (Male-Albino, Female-Reduced Pattern)
Various Fish

I have two JCP's. The female is just under 6' now, and was about 2 years old when I bought her. She hadn't really been handled much (owned by a breeder, so it wasn't a pet) and bit me every time I picked her up for about a year. She was one of the ones that just bites out of no where after being held awhile. I read on one of the sites the best way to get past the biting is to let them bite you, don't react to it, and continue to hold them afterwards. So when I could tell it was going to bite anything within range, I'd slowly move my fist, knuckles first towards it. I figured if I was going to take a bite, that's where I'd take it. I never hurts when I get bit, it just scares the s#%* out of you. Remember they don't bit out of aggression, just because they are afraid, so handle them gently and calmly. They do seem to sense when you are nervous and feed off of that energy. I take her out of the cage with a regular sized long snake hook. I hook her and drag her body towards me until she's slowly trying to move away from me, then reach in and gently pick her up. I hold her for a little while near her cage, and when she gets focused on me, like she might bite, and move her closer to her cage and she tries to crawl back towards it, and she kinda settles down, and then I move her back towards me. Finally I began to make progress and she didn't bite me for about 6 months. I got more confident and began to hold her longer and longer and moving further away from her cage. Then about a month ago out of no where she nailed me in the back of the head. It didnt' hurt or bleed, but startled me. She always bites really quick and doesn't hold on. The only thing that worries me is taking a bite to the face. Ok, you guys might laugh at me, but today I got a fencing, you know with the swords, mask, off of ebay, lol. I took her out and because I was I was more confident, she was calmer. I held her and carried her around the house and let her climb on my head and she hissed a bit, but hardly got into strike pose (S neck). It worked pretty good, so I'm going to keep it up while I work with her. I also have a '05 male JCP that is just a docile as a cornsnake, he's never even looked like he might bite. I got him much younger and I haven't really handled him much, because I want him to get used to his cage and feed well and grow, but I'm starting to hold him more often. I think he's going to have a much better temperment than the female. Good luck with your JCP, the female bi#%* is still my favorite snake, bites and all. JCP's are just so beautiful!

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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
0.1 Spouse

Thanks all! There was some great information in there. What kind of gloves would you recommend? Gardening or leather or what? I may trade him for a baby, but will try the gloves I think. Great setups, Prez!
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1.0 Blizzard Bill
1.0 Hypo stripe, Het Rainwater from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino (Cloud)
0.2 Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Pepper (het stripe), Goldie-now w/SD)
0.1 Normal (Freckles)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.1 Tremper Albino (Leucy)
RIP Peaches, Ghost
6 babies
lots more eggs a-cookin'

thanks for not laughing at the fencing mask, lol. I'd used leather first and then went to cotton. Mine really did seem to hate the leather gloves though, so you might skip that step.
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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
0.1 Spouse

My friend lays a towel over his JCP's head, and then reaches in with gloves on, picks it up and then quickly takes the gloves off. This seems to work pretty good. Another site I read, suggested using cotton gloves and getting your smell on them real good and picking them up with the gloves on. It also suggested placing your hand flat on the bottom of the cage and let the JCP come over and smell you, maybe crawl over your hand, and when it's away from you removing your hand, just to let them get used to your smell and associate a positive experience with it.
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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
0.1 Spouse

Here is a pic of my monster, she's still my favorite snake though. I'm hoping when my male gets to this size he's still be mellow and then he'll probably be my fav.

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1.1 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ball Python
1.1 Corn Snake
0.1 Gray band Kingsnake
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
0.1 Pueblan Milksnake
1.0 Bullsnake
1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback
0.1 Spouse
8 ball python eggs due any day now!

np
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1.0 Hypo stripe, Het Rainwater from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino (Cloud)
0.2 Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Pepper (het stripe))
0.1 Normal (Freckles)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.1 Tremper Albino (Leucy)
RIP Peaches, Ghost, Bill
Hatched: ~25

I would assume the normal bite is a strike and release. Ive only been bitten once, because he thought I was food. Smelled the box of rats while I was holding him and latched on to my thumb. Didnt let go right away, I had to get him off. Not a lot of fun. Under normal situations he is pretty calm. I would use a hook if I were you, thats how I used to get other squirmy snakes out of cages, and once handled they are usually pretty good, they just dont seem to like you hands coming down over them. With a hook, you can place them on top of your hands, and they dont see a threat.

My girlfriend picked up this gecko for $25, what do you think? Good deal?

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1.1 Cal Kings
1.1 Northern Pines
1.2 Honduran Boas
0.1 Tangerine Honduran Milks
1.2 Pueblan Milks
1.2 Blue Beauties
1.1 Irian Jaya Carpet Pythons

blah.... no offense, but mine are better. If you are looking for gecko, please let me know. I have a few left to sell still from the summer season. It looks healthy enough just from a pic, but I hope you trust the source and are quarantining it. My preference is for great color, not those pastel/ghosted out ones. Hit me up if you need any gex advice.
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1.0 Hypo stripe, Het Rainwater from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino (Cloud)
0.2 Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Pepper (het stripe))
0.1 Normal (Freckles)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.1 Tremper Albino (Leucy)
RIP Peaches, Ghost, Bill
Hatched: ~25